Headquarters
Climate Change and Security in the Pacific
Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo addressed on 6 May in New York a workshop on the links between climate change and security in the Pacific. The meeting, hosted by New Zealand, looked at priority climate-related security challenges affecting Pacific island states and how countries are responding, and reviewed recent efforts to develop a toolkit for climate-security risk assessment frameworks. Ms. DiCarlo recalled that the UN is bolstering efforts to address the impact of climate change on security. Last year, with Swedish support, DPPA, UNDP and UN Environment launched the Climate Security Mechanism to strengthen our institutional capacity to identify, prevent and manage climate-related security risks.
Annual UN-AU Conference
On 6 May, Secretary-General António Guterres and African Union (AU) Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat convened the Third African Union-United Nations Annual Conference at United Nations Headquarters. The two leaders committed to, among other things, continue to deepen the strategic partnership between the two organizations in addressing peace and security and sustainable development issues in Africa, reinforcing joint efforts towards the implementation of the AU initiative on Silencing the Guns by 2020 and welcomed the strengthened cooperation to promote gender parity and women's leadership. DPPA and the Department of Peace Operations oversee the UN Office to the African Union, which played a central role in the organization of the Conference.
Iraq
Anti-Domestic Violence Law in Iraq
The United Nations welcomes the Iraqi leadership’s support for steps towards the enactment of an Anti-Domestic Violence Law that fully protects the legal rights of all victims of domestic violence and serves as a deterrent, preventing impunity for perpetrators.
Read full story on UNAMI's website.
Meeting with Head of the Reform and Reconstruction bloc in the Council of Representatives
On 6 May, the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General for Iraq , Ms. Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert, met in Baghdad with the Head of the Reform and Reconstruction bloc in the Council of Representatives, Mr. Sabah Al-Saadi. He delivered a copy of Sayed Muqtada al-Sadr’s statement containing his concern about rising regional tensions, his vision of a regional role for Iraq in resolving disputes and proposals to end the armed conflicts and crises.
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Minorities and Human Rights Film Festival in Tikrit
On 8 May, UNAMI Human Rights Office launched the Minorities and Human Rights Film Festival in Tikrit. Films screened at the festival triggered lively panel and audience discussions on human rights issues raised. Issues like enforced disappearances, forced marriage, child marriage, child labour and begging, identity, the situation of displaced families, discrimination against minorities, violence against women and children, and the negative impact of corruption on the ability to exercise human rights were all covered at the festival.
Afghanistan
Students use theater performance to highlight dangers of conflict to kids
For the more than 300 students and teachers of Khulm District Boys High School, it was a different kind of learning when the school’s drama group re-enacted the daily lives and struggles of young people impacted by conflict. Using the power of story-telling, the performers delivered a compelling performance aimed at heightening awareness of the dangers of violent extremism and helping their peers to make meaningful decisions about their lives.
Read the full story on UNAMA's website
Somalia
Annual Memorial Service Honors Staff Who Lost Their Lives Serving the United Nations
On May 6, UNSOM honored staff in Somalia and around the world who have lost their lives in the service of peace. 115 UN peacekeepers and staff from 43 countries lost their lives between 1 January 2018 and March 2019.
Central Africa
Meeting in Brussels
Francois Lounceny Fall, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Central Africa and Head of UNOCA, was in Brussels this week to meet with representatives from the European Union, including Mr. Koen Vervaeke, Director General for Sub-Saharan Africa. They discussed the situation in Central Africa and further cooperation between the UN and EU in the region.
West Africa and the Sahel
Meeting in Guinea-Bissau
On 10 May, Heads of UN missions in West Africa met in Guinea-Bissau to share analysis on regional peace and security. The meeting was chaired by Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of UNOWAS. The UN is working together to strengthen coordination and partner synergies to respond to challenges common to West Africa and the Sahel.
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